Meet Leigh Handal

A country girl from Cheraw, S.C., Leigh first visited Charleston on a Brownie Scout field trip, and knew the instant her feet touched the ground that she was a part of this place.

Leigh earned a fun, but not particularly marketable, degree in 18th century literature at the College of Charleston. Her father then sent her back to get a real degree that might actually lead to a job: this time an M.A. in journalism at the University of South Carolina. 

For 13 years, Leigh directed Historic Charleston Foundation's annual Spring Festival of Houses & Gardens and Charleston International Antiques Show. She also worked at the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, Preservation Society of Charleston, and American College of the Building Arts, and been an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston.

She was tapped by Mayor Joe Riley to serve as Co-editor in rewriting the city’s official history for the Charleston Tour Guide Training Manual in 2011.

With 30 years' experience in public relations and fundraising, Leigh was recognized by



the Lowcountry Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals with its rarely awarded Outstanding Professional Fundraiser Award for lifetime achievement and service in the field.

Leigh is the author of three books:  Lost Charleston, published in 2019, explores the buildings, people and traditions that have disappeared and almost been forgotten over the decades.

Her second book, Storied and Scandalous Charleston, published in 2021, delves into some of the Lowcountry’s history that did not make it into the 4th grade history textbooks. Her third book, a rewrite of the classic Charleston Then & Now, was released in 2024. She has lectured extensively on Charleston's history to diverse groups.

Leigh retired from the 9 to 5 grind in 2023 and has dedicated the last chapter of her working days to her tour company, Charleston Raconteurs.

You can read more of Leigh’s work every other Monday in the Post and Courier’s “Do You Know Your Lowcountry” column or stream her occasional series “I Love the Lowcountry” on WCIV-TV’s Lowcountry Live show.